AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-132
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a
worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in
designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital
Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org
In this edition:
* AO-51 Scehdule for May 2009
* 2009 AMSAT Field Day Rules
* AMSAT DXpedition Loaner Gear Available
* Opening on AO-51 Operations Committee
* AMSAT Awards
* ARISS Status - 27 April 2009
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.01
AO-51 Schedule for May 2009
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 3, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-132.01
Due to rapidly increasing eclipse lengths throughout May, we need to keep
the satellite in "normal" mode for Whole Orbit Data (WOD) collection via the
BBS. Power output will steadily be decreased throughout the month.
April 27 - May 31
FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
9k6 BBS and Telemetry
Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM
73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT-NA VP Operations
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.02
2009 AMSAT Field Day Rules
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 3, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-132.02
The AMSAT Field Day 2009 event is open to all Amateur Radio operators. Amateurs
are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field Day. The AMSAT
competition is to encourage the use of all amateur satellites, both analog and
digital. Note that no points will be credited for any contacts beyond the ONE
allowed via each single-channel FM satellite. Operators are encouraged not to
make any extra contacts via theses satellites (Ex: AO-27 & SO-50).
CW contacts and digital contacts are worth three points as outlined below.
1. Analog Transponders
ARRL rules apply, except:
- Each phone, CW, and digital segment ON EACH SATELLITE TRANSPONDER is
considered to be a separate band.
- CW and digital (RTTY, PSK-31, etc.) contacts count THREE points each.
- Stations are limited to one (1) completed QSO on any single channel FM
satellite. If AO-51 has the V/U and L/S modes turned on, one contact each
is allowed. If the PBBS is on - see Pacsats below, ISS (1 phone and 1
digital), Contacts with the ISS crew will
count for one contact if they are
active. PCSat (I, II, etc.) (1 digital),
- The use of more than one transmitter at the same time on a single
satellite transponder is prohibited.
2. Digital Transponders
For the Pacsats (GO-32, AO-51) or Store and
Forward hamsats, each satellite is
considered a separate band. Do not post "CQ" messages. Simply upload ONE
greeting message to each satellite and download as many greeting messages as
possible from each satellite. The subject of the uploaded file should be posted
as Field Day Greetings, addressed to ALL. The purpose of this portion of the
competition is to demonstrate digital satellite communications to other Field
Day participants and observers. Do not reply to the Field Day Greetings
addressed to ALL.
The following uploads and downloads count as three-point digital contacts.
(a) Upload of a satellite Field Day Greetings file (one per satellite).
(b) Download of Satellite Field Day Greetings files posted by other stations.
Downloads of non- Field Day files or messages not
addressed to ALL are not to be
counted for the event. Save DIR listings and message files for later "proof of
contact."
Please note AMSAT uploaded messages do not count for QSO points under the ARRL
rules.
Satellite digipeat QSO's and APRS short-message contacts are worth three points
each, but must be complete verified two-way exchanges. Remember, only one
digipeat contact is allowed for the ISS and other satellites in this mode.
The use of terrestrial gateway stations or internet gateways (i.e. EchoLink,
IRLP, etc.) to uplink/downlink is not allowed.
3. Operating Class
Stations operating portable and using emergency power (as per ARRL Field Day
rules) are in a separate operating class from those at home connected to
commercial power. On the report form simply check off Emergency or Commercial
for the Power Source and be sure to specify your ARRL operating class (2A, 1C,
etc.).
AND FINALLY...
The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for
submission of the AMSAT Field Day
competition and be received by KK5DO (email or postal mail) by 11:59 P.M. CDT,
Monday, July 13, 2009. The preferred method for submitting your log is via
e-mail to kk5do at amsat.org or kk5do at arrl.net.
You may also use the postal service but give plenty of time for your results to
arrive by the submission date. Add photographs or other interesting information
so that can be used an article for the Journal.
You will receive an email back (within one or two days) from me when I receive
your email submission. If you do not receive a
confirmation message, then I have
not received your submission. Try sending it again or send it to my other email
address.
If mailing your submission, the address is:
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
Director of Awards and Contests
PO Box 310
Alief, TX 77411-0310.
Certificates will be awarded to the first-place
emergency power/portable station
at the AMSAT General Meeting and Space Symposium in October, 2009. Certificates
will also be awarded to the second and third place portable/emergency operation
in addition to the first-place home station
running on emergency power. Stations
submitting high, award-winning scores will be requested to send in dupe sheets
for analog contacts and message listings for digital downloads.
Additional information and a copy of the submission form is available at
http://www.amsatnet.com/2009fd.pdf
[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.03
AMSAT DXpedition Loaner Gear Available
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 3, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-132.03
AMSAT DXpedition loaner gear is available to members for use activating a DXCC
entity or rare grids such as on a cruise. Currently AMSAT has two Arrow
antennas, and a D7 handheld available for loan. Please contact Drew at
ko4ma at amsat.org for more information.
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.04
Opening on AO-51 Operations Committee
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 3, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-132.04
We currently have an opening on the AO-51 Operations Committee for an
enthusiastic individual interested in helping with scheduling, answering
questions about operations, and supporting AO-51 in general. Interested
parties are required to be an AMSAT member in good standing, have regular
access to email, and be experienced in many of the modes in which AO-51
operates in order to be considered. This is an excellent opportunity to get
involved with AMSAT for those new to volunteering for the organization.
I don't expect to announce the new member until after Dayton. Also, please
be patient while waiting for a response. Email the Operations Committee at
ao51-modes at amsat.org, directly to me at ko4ma at amsat.org, or see me in person
at Dayton.
73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT-NA VP Operations
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.05
AMSAT Awards
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 3, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-132.05
There continues to be a very high interest in AMSAT Awards which means a
lot of new operators on the satellites.
We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community. They
have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT
Satellite Communicators Club.
Benigno Gomez, XE2YBG
Chris Lemon, KB9CL
Evangelos Kafetzopoulos SV1EEK
James Cutter, W7OJS
Jim McCullough, KI4TWA
Steve Niles, N5EN
The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement
Award.
L. Val Hanney, KN7D #486
Benigno Gomez, XE2YBM #487
Steve Niles, N5EN #488
(We are approaching number 500 on this award)
To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or
http://www.amsatnet.com
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.06
ARISS Status - 27 April 2009
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 3, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-132.06
1. Ashland Contact Successful
On Monday, April 20, St. Edward School in Ashland, Ohio experienced an Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA
answered 13 questions posed to him by 12 children as approximately 170 students
and teachers looked on. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW
servers and received four connections from the U.S., England and Brazil.
Television channel 39 and the Times-Gazette both covered the event. The
newspaper article may be found here:
http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4570900
2. Astronaut Training Status
Astronaut Mike Fossum took and passed his amateur radio license exam on
Wednesday, April 15. His new callsign is KF5AQG.
3. CQ Magazine Article on ARISS Contact
Bob Hopkins, WB2UDC wrote an article on the Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) contact between youth attending the Berkeley Heights
Recreation Summer Playground in New Jersey and Expedition 17s Greg Chamitoff,
KD5PKZ. NPARC (New Providence Amateur Radio Club) assisted with the contact
which took place on August 13, 2008. The story, Believe in Your Dreams -
Anatomy of an ARISS Contact, was published in the April 2009 issue of CQ
Magazine.
4. Marcelino Canino Canino Contact Video
Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Dorado, Puerto Rico, a 2005 NASA
Explorer School, experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) contact on March 31. The video of students speaking with
Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK is now available on YouTube. See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toOAAxEhKRA
5. Article on Simonyi Contacts
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) member Maurice-André
Vigneault, VE3VIG wrote a short story for the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club
(OVMRC) news bulletin, The Rambler and Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) magazine,
TCA. The article is about contacts made between the Canada Science and
Technology Museum's VE3JW Amateur Radio Exhibit and Spaceflight Participant
Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK during his recent ISS flight. Space Contact
may be found on page 7 of the April 2009 issue of The Rambler. See:
http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ovmrc.on.
ca%2FRambler%2FRam2009-04.pdf&images=yes
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's
Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project
Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are
available from the AMSAT Office.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org